Overview
The Krzysztof Kieslowski Film School at the University of Silesia in Katowice is one of only two public film schools in Poland, alongside the better-known Lodz Film School. Named after Krzysztof Kieslowski, who taught at the faculty before his death in 1996, the school offers undergraduate and graduate programs in directing, cinematography, production management, and creative photography. The school occupies an architecturally distinctive building that has won multiple international architecture awards, with infrastructure built to European technical standards for training directors and cinematographers.
The school is a faculty of the University of Silesia, which means students have access to broader academic resources beyond film training. The faculty receives the highest number of incoming Erasmus+ exchange students of any department at the university, and it offers English-language programs including Multimedia International Studies (Erasmus Program) and Creative Management in New Media (Master Studies) for international applicants.
Katowice is the capital of the Silesia region in southern Poland. The city has lower living costs than Warsaw or Krakow, making it one of the most affordable European cities with a public film school. The winter semester runs from October 1 to February 22, and the summer semester runs from February 23 to September 30.
Programs Offered
- Film/TV Production and Photography (long-cycle studies) - a combined undergraduate and graduate program in cinematography and image production. Admission fee: PLN 150.
- BA in Film and Television Production Management - undergraduate producing and production management. Full-time and part-time options. Admission fee: PLN 100 (full-time), PLN 85 (part-time).
- MA in Film and Television Production Management - graduate producing program. Full-time and part-time options.
- MA in Creative Management in New Media - English-language graduate program for international students, offered within the Erasmus framework.
- Multimedia International Studies (Erasmus Program) - English-language program open to international exchange students.
Students in the production management program complete professional internships at audiovisual sector institutions after their first and second years. The directing and cinematography programs operate as long-cycle studies (integrated Bachelor's and Master's), which is standard for Polish film education.
Tuition and Cost of Attendance
As a public university in Poland, tuition is free for Polish citizens and EU students enrolled in full-time programs taught in Polish. This makes the Kieslowski Film School one of the most affordable film education options in Europe.
- Admission fee (directing/cinematography): PLN 150 (approximately 35 EUR)
- Admission fee (production management): PLN 100 full-time, PLN 85 part-time (approximately 23 EUR / 20 EUR)
- Tuition for non-EU students: The school charges tuition for non-EU foreigners on a fee-paying basis. Specific amounts are set per semester and are available through the university's International Admissions Office.
- Cost of living in Katowice: Estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 PLN per month (approximately 460 to 700 EUR) including accommodation, food, and transportation. This is significantly lower than Warsaw, Krakow, or any Western European city with a film school.
Equipment and Facilities
The school's building has received multiple international architecture awards and contains production facilities, studios, and post-production suites built to European technical standards. The infrastructure supports training in directing, cinematography, and sound for both film and television production.
As a faculty within the University of Silesia, students have access to university-wide resources including libraries, research facilities, and student services. The school's Erasmus+ participation means international students can attend for semester or year-long exchanges without paying tuition, using equipment and facilities on the same basis as degree-seeking students.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Most programs are taught in Polish, and language proficiency is required for the Polish-language tracks. International students who do not speak Polish should apply for the English-language offerings: the Creative Management in New Media master's program or the Multimedia International Studies Erasmus program.
The school is smaller and less internationally recognized than the Lodz Film School, but it offers a serious filmmaking education within a university context. Students who want a combination of film training and broader academic resources may find this model more suitable than a standalone film academy.
Application deadlines for 2025/2026 entry: Full-time BA in production management closes July 1, 2025. Full-time MA in production management closes September 15, 2025. Part-time studies close September 12, 2025. Applications for the Erasmus and English-language master's programs have rolling deadlines.
Notable Alumni
The school's most famous association is with Krzysztof Kieslowski, director of Three Colors: Blue, White, Red, The Decalogue, and The Double Life of Veronique, who taught at the faculty. The school continues to produce graduates working in Polish and Central European narrative and documentary production, though specific alumni names are less internationally documented than those of the Lodz Film School.
Acceptance Rate
The school does not publish a formal acceptance rate. Admission to the directing and cinematography programs requires passing creative and practical entrance examinations. The production management program charges an admission fee of PLN 100 (full-time) or PLN 85 (part-time). The directing and cinematography programs charge PLN 150. Competition for places in directing and cinematography is typically higher than for production management, as these are the school's flagship disciplines. Application deadlines for 2025/2026 entry: full-time BA in production management closes July 1, 2025. Full-time MA in production management closes September 15, 2025.
Standout Faculty
The school's most famous faculty member was Krzysztof Kieslowski, who taught at the faculty before his death in 1996. Current faculty include working Polish filmmakers, cinematographers, and producers active in Central European production. The school's Erasmus+ participation brings visiting faculty from partner institutions across Europe. The faculty receives the highest number of incoming Erasmus+ exchange students of any department at the University of Silesia, reflecting its international engagement. Specific current faculty names and credits are not widely published in English.
Student Film Examples
Students in the directing and cinematography programs produce short films and practical exercises throughout their studies. Production management students complete professional internships at audiovisual sector institutions after their first and second years. The school's building contains production facilities and post-production suites built to European technical standards. Student work screens at internal showcases and Polish film festivals. Specific student film titles are not widely published in English.
Watch
See Also
For comparing film school ROI against self-taught paths, see Film School vs Self-Taught. To estimate total education costs including living expenses, use the Budget Breakdown. For festival submission strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
